He was only what a brother can be,
always teaching, sharing and laughing with me.
Then came his decision to go away,
and I still remember how he looked that day.
He walked straight and stood tall,
as he answered his country's call.
He wasn't a hero or especially brave
but he didn't stand on a corner and rant and rave.
Cowardice and lies he couldn't stand,
for he was an American, a soldier and a man.
He had always done what he thought was right
and evidently he thought Vietnam was our fight.
In a village so far away, I'm not sure of the name,
he died as he had lived without any shame.
I hope more boys can grow up like him,
for he was a man; my brother Jim.
K. Amis, Colorado Springs, Colorado
for my brother, Sp4 James Foley
KIA February 24, 1966 Page 127:
Hello, David- my name is Dusty.
I'm your night nurse.
I will stay with you.
I will check your vitals
every 15 minutes.
I will document
inevitability.
I will hang more blood
and give you something
for your pain.
I will stay with you
and I will touch your face.
Yes, of course,
I will write your mother
and tell her you were brave.
I will write your mother
and tell her how much you loved her.
I will write your mother
and tell her to give your bratty kid sister
a big kiss and hug.
What I will not tell her
is that you were wasted.
I will stay with you
and I will hold your hand.
I will stay with you
and watch your life
flow through my fingers
into my soul.
I will stay with you
until you stay with me.
Goodbye, David- my name is Dusty.
I'm the last person
you will see.
I'm the last person
you will touch.
I'm the last person
who will love you.
So long, David- my name is Dusty.
David- who will give me something
for my pain?
Page 213 Dear Billy,
Well, I finally made it to say goodbye! Sorry it took 16 years, but you know how hard it is to say anything for me.
You can't believe how much things have changed. No more long hair, no more VW vans with flowers. But I guess we missed out on most of that when we went over to beautiful Vietnam in '69.
Your name is on a black wall in D.C., but I'm sorry to say that it's a little below ground- kind of like how Charlie was! You look over a nice green- a place like we used to play football on back home. A lot of people walk by all day- you can tell the Vets- we are the one who don't have to ask about the size or type of material used to make the wall. We just stand and look, not caring who sees us cry- just like no one cared who died.
I just moved to Washington, D.C., from New York City. No, Billy, I never did make it as a writer. I gave it 10 years but now I'm 34 and I better get my sh together. I was married and I have 2 kids. A boy, Billy (guess who I named him after!!!), and a beautiful littler girl, Sharon.
The day after you got it- I was hit in both legs and the back. Just my luck, I got the special ticket home and spent 3 years having operations and all that other sh that 'recovery' means.
I miss our talks Billy- sometimes I get scared and no one understands how I feel. I guess only those who were there know the fear and pain that is felt.
I guess it's time for me to travel on, Billy. The light is going and my hand is shaking. I miss you, guy, and wish we could have laughed together for these past 16 years.
Take care, guy, and don't worry, I'll be back to visit. (Don't forget the 2 broads in the hospital!! What a time we had that night.)
Your pal, "Shock"
Robert Shockley
Special Orders to Billy Pedings, "Welcome Home."
Page 189
Years later
I can never hear
the sound of a helicopter
Without remembering
What I have lost.
In leaving today
tears stain
the window of the airplane
on the runway.
It has not rained
in L.A. for months
It rains today. I have had
twenty years
now
to reflect on this
madness
And it is
always the same. Thinking of you,
Linda Phillips Palo
He was only what a brother can be,
always teaching, sharing and laughing with me.
Then came his decision to go away,
and I still remember how he looked that day.
He walked straight and stood tall,
as he answered his country's call.
He wasn't a hero or especially brave
but he didn't stand on a corner and rant and rave.
Cowardice and lies he couldn't stand,
for he was an American, a soldier and a man.
He had always done what he thought was right
and evidently he thought Vietnam was our fight.
In a village so far away, I'm not sure of the name,
he died as he had lived without any shame.
I hope more boys can grow up like him,
for he was a man; my brother Jim.
K. Amis, Colorado Springs, Colorado
for my brother, Sp4 James Foley
KIA February 24, 1966
Page 127:
Hello, David- my name is Dusty.
I'm your night nurse.
I will stay with you.
I will check your vitals
every 15 minutes.
I will document
inevitability.
I will hang more blood
and give you something
for your pain.
I will stay with you
and I will touch your face.
Yes, of course,
I will write your mother
and tell her you were brave.
I will write your mother
and tell her how much you loved her.
I will write your mother
and tell her to give your bratty kid sister
a big kiss and hug.
What I will not tell her
is that you were wasted.
I will stay with you
and I will hold your hand.
I will stay with you
and watch your life
flow through my fingers
into my soul.
I will stay with you
until you stay with me.
Goodbye, David- my name is Dusty.
I'm the last person
you will see.
I'm the last person
you will touch.
I'm the last person
who will love you.
So long, David- my name is Dusty.
David- who will give me something
for my pain?
Page 213
Dear Billy,
Well, I finally made it to say goodbye! Sorry it took 16 years, but you know how hard it is to say anything for me.
You can't believe how much things have changed. No more long hair, no more VW vans with flowers. But I guess we missed out on most of that when we went over to beautiful Vietnam in '69.
Your name is on a black wall in D.C., but I'm sorry to say that it's a little below ground- kind of like how Charlie was! You look over a nice green- a place like we used to play football on back home. A lot of people walk by all day- you can tell the Vets- we are the one who don't have to ask about the size or type of material used to make the wall. We just stand and look, not caring who sees us cry- just like no one cared who died.
I just moved to Washington, D.C., from New York City. No, Billy, I never did make it as a writer. I gave it 10 years but now I'm 34 and I better get my sh together. I was married and I have 2 kids. A boy, Billy (guess who I named him after!!!), and a beautiful littler girl, Sharon.
The day after you got it- I was hit in both legs and the back. Just my luck, I got the special ticket home and spent 3 years having operations and all that other sh that 'recovery' means.
I miss our talks Billy- sometimes I get scared and no one understands how I feel. I guess only those who were there know the fear and pain that is felt.
I guess it's time for me to travel on, Billy. The light is going and my hand is shaking. I miss you, guy, and wish we could have laughed together for these past 16 years.
Take care, guy, and don't worry, I'll be back to visit. (Don't forget the 2 broads in the hospital!! What a time we had that night.)
Your pal, "Shock"
Robert Shockley
Special Orders to Billy Pedings, "Welcome Home."
Page 189
Years later
I can never hear
the sound of a helicopter
Without remembering
What I have lost.
In leaving today
tears stain
the window of the airplane
on the runway.
It has not rained
in L.A. for months
It rains today.
I have had
twenty years
now
to reflect on this
madness
And it is
always the same.
Thinking of you,
Linda Phillips Palo